Report: Easier voting for military

For military and overseas voters from 47 states and D.C., casting a ballot in 2012 will be a much different — and easier — experience than ever before.

Since the 2009 passage of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, which called for improved election access for those living or serving abroad, 47 states and D.C. have enacted new laws and reforms to protect this group of voters, the Pew Center on the States study released Friday found. The 2012 election is the first presidential contest where these voters will cast ballots with the newly implemented legislative and administrative changes.

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Pew found that 38 states and D.C. now have rules meeting or exceeding the MOVE act’s requirement to send absentee ballots no later than 45 days before a federal election, and eight states also moved their primary dates to accommodate that condition.

And in 2012, all states and D.C. permit military and overseas voters to receive blank ballots electronically. Since 2010, 31 states and D.C. changed or expanded their laws to comply with the requirement that voting materials, including unmarked ballots, be sent through electronic transmission.

In another improvement for voters abroad, 46 states and D.C. currently do not require notarizing or witness requirements for military and overseas ballots. And 34 states and D.C. now mandate that federal write-in absentee ballots be used as a backup ballot for all elections, Pew found.

“For far too long, those serving and protecting our democracy were unable to fully participate in elections back at home,” David Becker, director of Election Initiatives at the Pew Center on the States, said in a statement. “Now, the vast majority of states have greatly improved the ability of millions of military personnel and civilians overseas to cast a ballot and ensure it counts.”

The key for ensuring the success of these reforms for military and overseas voters, Pew’s researchers wrote in the report, is “implementing and enforcing these new laws and the MOVE act.”

“States have made significant progress in improving the process for military and overseas voters,” Becker said. “Still, more work remains. As our partners continue efforts to ensure these voters can participate in the electoral process, Pew will continue working toward strengthening voter registration systems and access to voting information for all Americans — including those serving abroad.”

Pew examined state laws, legislation and administrative codes for their survey, and gave state election officials an opportunity to respond to findings Oct. 2011-Jan. 2012.